2024 Lexus RX 450h+ Review and Test Drive
Lexus puts together a compelling plug-in hybrid package, but value is elusive.
Christian Wardlaw
QuickTakes:
Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) include a gasoline engine, an electric motor, and a battery pack. They combine a limited driving range on electricity for local trips with the convenience of using gas for longer journeys and could serve as a bridge between gas-only vehicles and fully electric vehicles.
The new 2024 Lexus RX 450h+ is a PHEV, and it's mostly terrific. Unfortunately, it comes only in Luxury trim at an equally luxurious price.
The new Lexus RX plug-in hybrid joins a lineup that includes the turbocharged gasoline-fueled RX 350, the gas-electric RX 350h hybrid, and the performance-oriented gas-electric RX 500h F Sport Performance hybrid. I thoroughly evaluated all three of those RX models when Lexus introduced the redesigned SUV for the 2023 model year. This time around, I'm focusing on the RX 450h+ PHEV variant.
Lexus offers the 2024 RX 450h+ only in fully loaded Luxury trim. Compared with the RX 350h Luxury model, this vehicle commands a premium of more than $9,000, though it does offer a 37-mile electric range.
The RX 450h+ also makes 304 horsepower and scoots to 60 mph in 6.2 seconds, according to Lexus. The RX 350h, by contrast, supplies 246 horsepower and requires a leisurely 7.4 seconds to get up to freeway speeds.
As for efficiency, the RX 350h has an estimated fuel-economy rating of 36 mpg in combined driving. I observed 34.6 mpg while driving the RX PHEV solely as a hybrid, so neither version enjoys a significant gas-mileage advantage. The RX 450h+, however, has a gas tank that's about 3 gallons smaller, so if you never plug it in and only drive it as a hybrid, you will likely stop for gas more frequently than you would in the RX 350h.
Christian Wardlaw
The Lexus RX 450h+ Is Attractive but Expensive
If you're leasing, Lexus offers $7,500 in lease cash to help lower the monthly payment, potentially making the more than $70,500 RX 450h+ a more appealing proposition. Plug it in every night and you may be surprised by how infrequently you need to visit a gas station.
If you're buying, I'd say it's tougher to justify actually purchasing the RX 450h+ unless you have a short commute or you're typically staying local to run kids to school, perform errands, or hit the pickleball courts. Consider going for the RX 350h Luxury instead. Even though it might feel like it takes forever to accelerate onto a highway, you'll be paying less to start and potentially filling up the gas tank less frequently.
Christian Wardlaw
I wish I had better news to report on the financial front because I thoroughly enjoyed driving the RX 450h+ for a week. Dipped in Cloudburst Gray, my test vehicle looked about as good as a Lexus RX can.
Inside, the lovely Macadamia premium leather and bamboo wood trim contrasted beautifully with the darker cabin elements, and the subtle nighttime ambient lighting was as soothing as the comfortable seats and quiet interior.
Equipped with a Convenience package, Technology package, Cold Area package, and a hands-free power liftgate, the test vehicle's manufacturer's suggested retail price came to $73,225, including the destination charge to ship it from the Cambridge, Ontario, assembly plant in Canada.
Christian Wardlaw
The Ride Is Luxurious and Comfortable
To create the RX 450h+, Lexus pairs front and rear electric motors with a lithium-ion battery, a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, and a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). The plug-in has a Level 1 charging cord compatible with standard household outlets and a socket to use with Level 2 home and public charging solutions. With its 6.6-kilowatt-hour onboard charger, the RX PHEV recharges in about 2.5 hours when using a Level 2 solution.
I started my test-vehicle evaluation loop with a fully charged battery and an indicated 37 miles of electric range. The SUV traveled 35.2 miles on electricity at an indicated 2.5 miles per kilowatt-hour, or 40 kWh per 100 miles, but that included a climb into and descent out of the Santa Monica Mountains. For the 71.6 miles traveled during the test drive, the Lexus averaged 57.1 mpg.
Christian Wardlaw
If you want a soft, plush, quiet, and comfortable SUV, my experience says the Lexus RX Luxury can deliver it. You can't help but relax in this isolated, luxurious conveyance, which makes the four-cylinder engine's bleating all the more unbecoming. Once you're out of battery, the gas engine makes its presence known when accelerating hard or driving up a grade, and the CVT doesn't help. But under typical conditions, you probably won't notice the powertrain much, if at all.
You might not notice pavement irregularities, either, because the RX 450h+ Luxury has a supple, absorbent ride quality that avoids feeling floaty. I found steering to be silky with an appreciable heft, and the regenerative braking system provided excellent pedal feel. The only dynamic elements that harshed my vibe while driving this SUV were the four-cylinder engine and the CVT, which sometimes held revs too high.
If you drive the Lexus with haste, you may feel secure, but don't expect to crack a smile. This version of the SUV is not fond of romping down winding back roads. Consider the RX 500h F Sport Performance hybrid model if spirited back-road driving is on your agenda.
Christian Wardlaw
The RX 450h+ Offers Functional Tech With Minor Irritations
During this evaluation, I tested the RX's Lexus Safety System+ 3.0 collection of safety features on my usual Southern California evaluation route. This package equips the RX 450h+ with adaptive cruise control with curve speed control; lane-centering and lane-change assist; and intersection-assist functions, including front cross-traffic alert.
In addition, the RX 450h+ has Proactive Driving Assist (PDA), a blind-spot monitoring system, and a rear cross-traffic alert. The test vehicle's Convenience package added a surround-view camera and low-speed traffic jam assist, while the Technology package installed a digital key function and a camera-based digital rearview mirror.
I don't mind Lexus' PDA in most situations. It can automatically add slight braking and steering to help ensure you keep a safe distance from other vehicles, even when the adaptive cruise control is off. It was bothersome on a mountain road, however, so I turned it off.
On Pacific Coast Highway, the adaptive cruise control system's curve-speed control function was too aggressive. However, the lane-change assist feature operated more smoothly and less abruptly than similar technologies I've experienced — if you can exercise the patience to give it the time it needs to work.
The lane-centering-assist system proved effective, especially on the less challenging stretches of the highway. However, it struggled with a mid-curve intersection, adding an incorrect and insistent tug to the left in an attempt to put the RX into the left turn lane.
Christian Wardlaw
The test vehicle's head-up display (HUD) presents useful data in a pleasing layout. Unfortunately, its presence meant my RX 450h+ had an unmarked control pad on the steering wheel. Control pads of this type generally require fingertip-eye coordination between the pad and the HUD, and using them always causes me distraction.
On one occasion, after successful coordination, my thumb moved as the RX jostled over the road surface. I accidentally shut the driver-assistance systems off instead of resuming my speed.
The RX 450h+'s Price Is High and Its Competition Is Fierce
I'm surprised I liked the 2024 Lexus RX 450h+ as much as I did. Decked out in Luxury trim, it is an oasis on wheels — a place to escape, relax, and unwind. Nothing intrudes on the tranquility except for the gas engine racket when it revs hard. And while it's not much fun to drive, it is enjoyable nevertheless.
Christian Wardlaw
You could also consider alternatives from BMW and Mercedes-Benz. At the BMW store, the price premium to upgrade to the X5 xDrive50e plug-in hybrid amounts to $5,100. Compare that with the $9,350 Lexus wants to upgrade to the RX 450h+ from the RX 350h. Meanwhile, Mercedes-Benz offers the GLE 450e plug-in hybrid for the same price as the standard GLE 450.
Lexus provided the vehicle for this 2024 RX 450h+ review.
